Thursday, December 17, 2015

Punk Rock Blitzkrieg by Marky Ramone tells the story of his journey from the burgeoning NY scene of the 70’s on through to the present. From his early music beginnings of being signed to Neil Bogart’s first label, to Wayne County, the man who took gender bending to a whole other place. Under the management of MainMan, Bowie’s people at the time, interesting anecdotes of how rumors went around that MainMan only kept Wayne on their roster so Bowie could knick ideas from Wayne. When that band didn’t pan out, Marky went on to join Richard Hell & The Voidoids, who in many ways would inspire the UK punks when their Sire Records debut was released.Once he hooked up with The Ramones, let the games begin. Talk about a disfunctional bunch of bandmates, whether it be pulling knives on each other, stealing girlfriends, or Joey’s OCD condition, Marky tells it in a way with a ray of humour. His own battles with alcoholism, led to a wake up call when he was told he could no longer be in the band. The final straw, finding himself in a furniture store, and it wasn’t to buy a new sofa. His father’s stern words left an impact, and it was time for AA. His second chance at a healthy life would eventually coincide with a second chance in The Ramones. It’s a captivating book from a stand up guy who’s been through the high’s and low’s and has found a comfortable place on the other end of it all. How many artists can say they recorded with Phil Spector? How many can create a movement? This one has lasted, influenced countless others, a musical legacy that continues to be as strong as ever. This book is a must read for any self proclaimed music aficionado, or those wanting a history trip through the roots of punk/rock and New York City.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

They were the band Elektra didn’t expect to do well. A #1 video on MTV (back when it meant something still), Top 40 single, countless tours with the big boys, Faster Pussycat left their mark. But as colorful a ride as it was, Eric Stacy tells us in this interview tales of some rough patches, including how some band members had to take odd jobs after Whipped wasn’t able to supersede it’s previous release. More importantly though, this was a band that came up during the last great days of the Sunset Strip. Their singer opened up a night club, and the Cathouse would become as infamous as the band itself. If you ever wondered what a night out with Taime and Co. was like at their hotspot, listen on and find out. We also come closer to solving the ever present golden question... Taime as a blond vs. black. Eric shares his thoughts on this and more. Get it here